Labeling and transferring device



Dec. 8', 19 70 v ."K. DULLINGER I 9 9 LABELING AND TRANSFERRING rmvxcFiled March 11, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 3' It i k mm. mama's-.2 NanaegrJOJJ$ A'rfrotueis I I Dec. 8,1970 K. DULLINGER ETA!- :LABELING ANDTRANSFERRING DEVICE Filed March ll, 1969 ,3 Sheets-Sheet s INVEN T025Kfika 0044. mid-e:

meaezer do!!! ATTO 2-4515 United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 156-571 11Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to anautomatic labeling machine having a label magazine, a rotary labelingcylinder for applying labels to containers, and a label transfermechanism for transferring labels from the magazine to the rotarylabeling cylinder. The transfer mechanism comprises a series of rotarylabel transfer shoes or rollers and a rotating shoe carrier on which theshoes orbit past the magazine and the labeling cylinder to sequentiallyroll over the foremost label in the magazine to pick said foremost labelout of the magazine and roll past the rotary labeling cylinder in thecourse of transferring the label thereto. The labeling cylinder andmagazine are disposed on opposite sides of the orbit whereby the shoesrotate about their axes in the same direction when passing the magazineand the labeling cylinder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Other automatic labeling machines over whichthe present invention improves have the label magazine on the same sideof the rotating shoe carrier orbit as the rotary labeling cylinder. Themagazine generally has no movement in the direction of shoe carrierrotary movement. The labeling cylinder rotates, in some instances, inthe same rotary direction as the shoe carrier and in other instances,counter thereto. To match the surface speed of the shoe with both thestationary magazine and the rotating labeling cylinder, these othermachines typically provide mechanism for changing the speed of rotationof the rotating shoe rollers in the orbit space between the labelmagazine and the rotary labeling cylinder. Where the labeling cylinderrotates counter to the rotation of the shoe carrier, it is furthernecessary to reverse the rotation of the shoe rollers between the labelmagazine and the labeling cylinder. In such other machines, considerableauxiliary equipment is necessary to effectuate these variations in speedand/or direction of rotation of the shoes. Moreover, these variationsare attended by considerable noise and irregular jarring operation ofthe label transfer mechanism. The mass and momentum of the shoes resistsuch variations. The problem is magnified inasmuch as there are aplurality of transfer shoes, the speed of rotation of which must berepeatedly accelerated and decelerated in the course of their orbitingmovement past the magazine and the label applying cylinder. Theforegoing circumstances necessarily limit the speed of operation of suchother machines.

However, modern day labeling machines are called upon to operate at thehighest possible speed for economic reasons. The problems aforestatedare intensified as machine speeds are increased to meet industrialdemands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, theposition of the magazine with respect to the orbit of the carrier onwhich the transfer shoes are mounted is reversed as compared to theprior art machines. This places the magazine on the opposite side of theorbit from the label ap- 3,546,M8 Patented Dec. 8, 1970 plying cylinder.In a machine in which the labeling cylinder rotates counter to therotation of the shoe carrier, this repositioning of the magazine makesit possible to match the surface speed of the shoe to the magazine andthe labeling cylinder without need for any variation whatever in thespeed of shoe rotation. This improvement eliminates all of the mechanismheretofore necessary for varying the speed and/or direction of shoerotation, and substantially eliminates the jarring and noise whichcharacterize operation of other machines, and facilitates attainment ofhigh speed operation.

Moreover, by placing the magazine on the inside of the circle orbit ofthe transfer shoes, the extraction rate of the labels from the magazineis reduced, thus further reducing label transfer problems as between thelabel magazine and the shoes.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will appearfrom the following disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating oneform of machine over which the present invention is an improvement.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view, somewhat diagrammatic, of la beling apparatusembodying the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing a modified embodiment inwhich the label magazine is disposed at an incline.

FIG. 6 is a cross section taken through a modified embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Although the disclosure hereof isdetailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice theinvention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplifythe invention which may be embodied in other specific structure. Thescope of the invention is defined in the claims appended hereto.

FIG. 1 illustrates another form of labeling machine in which the labelmagazine 10 and label applying cylinder 11 are disposed on the same sideof the circular orbit 12 of the rotary label transfer shoes or rollers13. The label magazine 10 is relatively stationary and the labelapplying cylinder 11 rotates at relatively high speed clockwise in thedirection of arrow 14. Cylinder 11 applies labels to containers 15moving in the direction of arrow 22 on conveyor 17.

The shoes or rollers 13 are mounted for rotation about their own axes 9on a rotating shoe carrier such as carrier 27 shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and5. The carrier rotates clockwise about its axis 8, in the direction ofarrow 18 to move the shoes 13 on their orbit 12.

In order to match the surface speed of the shoes 13 to the labels inmagazine 10, the shoes 13 are rotated counterclockwise in the directionof arrows 21 as they pass the magazine 10. Thus the shoes 13 roll acrossthe front of th magazine with no relative orbital movement between thecontacting surface of the shoe 13 and the label. The shoes 13 may beprovided with suction nozzles to pick the foremost label out of themagazine, or the shoe surface may be treated with glue or the like forthis purpose, as indicated in FIG. 3.

Inasmuch as conveyor 17 is moving at relatively high speed in thedirection of arrow 22, label applying cylinder 11 must rotate atcorrespondingly high speed clockwise in the direction of arrow 14, thusto smoothly transfer labels to the containers 15. Accordingly, it isnecessary to accelerate the speed of rotation of shoes 13 in thedirection of arrow 21 between their position where they leave themagazine and their position when they transfer the label to the labelapplying cylinder 11. Accordingly, mechanism not illustrated in FIG. 1is required to accelerate the shoes to bring their surface speed tomatch with the surface speed of the labeling cylinder 11. Thereafter,such mechanism must decelerate the shoes to match with the stationarylabel magazine. This has the disadvantages previously mentioned.

Moreover, the included angle 23 between the beginning and end of thelabel extracting operation of the shoe 13 with respect to magazine 10 isrelatively small. Accordingly, the time span for removing the label fromthe magazine 10 is very short, and the label extraction rate must behigh. This introduces problems of smoothness of label extraction wtihpossible faults in this procedure.

In accordance with the present inventoin, and as is diagrammaticallyshown in FIG. 2, the magazine 10 (of the same width as in FIG. 1) is onthe inside of the circle orbit 12 (of the same size as in FIG. 1) onwhich the shoe carrier turns the shoes 13 past the magazine 10 to thelabel applying cylinder 11. In this view cylinder 11 rotatescounterclockwise in the direction of arrow 19 and container travels inthe direction of arrow 16. The shoes 13 constantly rotate clockwise inthe direction of arrow 24 and at the same speed at all points on theirorbit 12. The direction and speed of shoe rotation is matched to thestationary label in magazine 10. Adjacent magazine 10, the surface speedof the shoe cancels the orbiting speed of the shoe carrier so the shoesurface walks or rolls over the foremost label. Adjacent labelingcylinder 11, the surface speed of the shoe adds to the orbiting speed ofthe carrier, thus to match the high speed of the cylinder 11.Accordingly, the direction and speed of rotation of shoes 13 is notchanged in orbiting from the magazine 10 to the label cylinder 11. Thevarious speeds of the parts are so adjusted as to match the speed ofrotation of the label cylinder 11 for perfect transfer of the labels tothe containers on the conveyor 17. With the speeds of the various partsso adjusted, there is no need for any acceleration or deceleration ofthe shoes 13, there is no jarring and no noise, and the operation issmooth and uninterrupted.

Moreover, the included angle 26 between the beginning and end of thelabel extraction operation from magazine 10 is greater than includedangle 23 of FIG. 1. Accordingly, a greater time span is allowed forextraction of the label from the magazine. This reduces the rate oflabel extraction and minimizes the problems associated with high speedextraction.

Moreover, the natural tendency of the labels in magazine 10 is to curveoutwardly, as shonw in FIG. 2. This is because they are held in themagazine only at their edges. The exposed label surface is curvilinearlyaligned on the path of the shoe orbit.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a practical structural embodiment of theprincipal illustrated in FIG. 2. The labeling cylinder 11 typically hasthe construction shown in the prior US. patent application of KarlDullinger, Ser. No. 663,289 filed Aug. 25, 1967. The label transfermembers or shoes 13 are mounted on a shoe carrier 27. The carrier 27 isjournaled to rotate about a fixed axle 28. Carrier 27 has a bottom disk34, also journaled on axle 28. Disk 34 is provided with a gear 29 whichmeshes with a pinion 32 on drive shaft 33.

Each shoe or roller 13 is mounted on carrier 27 for rotation on its ownshaft 35, the lower end of which is provided with a planet gear 36 whichmeshes with a stationary sun gear 37 fast to axle 28. Accordingly, asthe shoe carrier 27 turns clockwise in the direction of arrow 42, thusto orbit the shoes 13 on a circular path, the shoes 13 will rotateclockwise on shafts in the direction of arrows 38, as shown in FIG. 3.

The label magazine 41 is mounted on the inside of the circular orbit ofshoes 13 and will cooperate with the shoes 13 as they orbit past themagazine int he manner illustrated in FIG. 2 and as hereinbeforeexplained. FIG. 3 also illustrates a gluing belt 43 which is mounted onend rollers 44, 45 which rotate in the direction of arrows 46, thus todrive the inside run of the belt 43 in the same direction of the shoeorbit and in the direction of arrow 47. Glue is applied to the belt 43by other mechanism and is doctored by blade 48. The belt 43 issufficiently long to insure contact of the belt with the shoes over asubstantial part of the orbit of the shoes. The shoe carrier 27 may befurther provided with idler rollers 51 which press against the belt 43and help shape the inside run of the belt 43 t0 the orbit on which theshoes 13 travel.

As successive shoes 13 orbit past the magazine 41, successive foremostlabels 52 will be picked up by the shoes 13 and without change of speedor direction of rotation of the shoes 13, are transferred to thelabeling cylinder 11, as illustrated.

The major part of the orbit of the shoes 13 around the sides and rear ofmagazine 41 is desirably covered by a guard cover 53 to shield thelabels in the magazine from the glue coated shoes 13. Cover 53 also actsas a safety guard for personnel refilling labels into the magazine.Cover 53 has particular utility when the label magazine 41 is disposedinside the orbit of the shoes 13 and substantially on the diameter ofthe orbit circle, as shown in FIG. 3.

The magazine 41 is desirably provided with retracting mechanism 54, suchas a solenoid or fluid cylinder, which is coupled by links 55, 56 to themagazine and by which the magazine may be retracted automatically bymechanism which senses the absence of a container 15 on the conveyor 17.The magazine is returned under the pressure of a compression spring 57which seats stop bracket 58 against buffer stop 59 when the magazine isin its fully advanced position.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment in which the magazine 41 is mounted onbracket 62 to elevate the rear end 63 of the magazine, thus tofacilitate loading fresh labels into the magazine, notwithstanding itsconfined position inside the orbit of the shoes 13.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 3-5, the axle 28 about which the shoe carrier27 orbits is substantially parallel to the shaft 64 on which the labelapplying cylinder 11 is mounted. As viewed from the top in FIG. 3, thecircular orbit of the shoes 13 is in the same plane as the circular pathof rotation of the labeling cylinder 11.

FIG. 6 shows a modified embodiment in which the label transfer shoes 66have an orbit which is transverse to the plane of rotation of thelabeling cylinder 65. There is a frame 67 on which the shaft 68 for thelabeling cylinder 65 is mounted. The shoes 66 are in the form oftruncated cones, each being mounted on a shaft 71 supported in a shoecarrier 72 rotatable on the axis of bevel gear 73 which meshes withbevel gears 74, 75. Gear 75 receives power from the power input shaft76. Fixed axle 77 is provided with a bevel gear 78. Shafts 71 of thecone-shaped transfer shoes 66 are provided with meshing bevel gears 79.As carrier 72 turns on axle 77, the shoes 66 will turn on their ownshafts 71 at an appropriate surface speed to match the peripheral speedof the labeling cylinder 65.

Label magazine 82 is mounted at an appropriate angle to match thetapered surface of the shoes 66. Accordingly, in this embodiment, aswell as in prior embodiments, the magazine 82 is disposed on theopposite side of the orbit of the shoes 66 from the labeling cylinder65.

As in the previously described embodiment, there is also a gluing belt83 mounted on a pair of rollers, one of which is shown at 84 and whichhas shaft 85 driven from bevel gear set 86, 87. Shaft 85 has a gear 88meshing with a gear 89 on the same shaft as bevel gear 87.

The conical shape of the shoes 66 accommodates the transverse axes ofthe orbit of the shoe carrier 72 and the plane of rotation of thelabeling cylinder 65 for smooth successive transfer of labels from themagazine 82 to the shoes 66 and thence to the labeling cylinder 65. Inthe course of this transfer there is no change in speed or direction ofrotation of the shoes 66.

We claim:

1. In an automatic labeling machine having a label magazine, a rotarylabeling cylinder for applying to containers and a label transfermechanism for transferring labels from the magazine to the rotarylabeling cylinder, said transfer mechanism comprising a series of rotarylabel transfer shoes and a rotating shoe carrier on which the shoesorbit past the magazine and labeling cylinder to sequentially roll overthe foremost label in the magazine to pick said foremost label out ofthe magazine and roll past the rotary labeling cylinder in the course oftransferring the said label thereto, the improvement in which thelabeling cylinder and magazine are disposed on pposite sides of saidorbit whereby the shoes rotate about their axes in the same directionWhen passing the magazine and the labeling cylinder.

2. The invention of claim 1 in which the magazine is disposed insidesaid orbit and the labeling cylinder is outside said orbit.

3. The invention of claim 1 in which there is also a gluing mechanism onthe same side of the orbit as the labeling cylinder, said gluingmechanism having a gluing mechanism having a gluing surface moving inthe samedirection as the orbit of the transfer shoes.

4. The invention of claim 1 in which the transfer shoes rotate abouttheir own axes at substantially the same rate throughout said orbit.

5. The invention of claim 2 in which the magazine is inclined withrespect to the plane of the orbit, to facilitate loading labelsthereinto.

6. The invention of claim 1 in which the labeling cylinder and shoecarriers rotate on substantially parallel axes.

7. The invention of claim 1 in which the labeling cylinder and shoecarrier rotate on transverse axes.

8. The invention of claim 7 in which the shoes comprise cones.

9. The invention of claim 2 in which there is a protective cover over aportion of said orbit.

10. The invention of claim 2 in which labels in the magazine curveoutwardly with their exposed surface aligned curvilinearly on the shoeorbit.

11. The invention of claim 1 in which the shoe carrier and shoes bothrotate in the same direction and the labeling cylinder rotates counterthereto.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 1,471,570 3/1967 Germany 156--568BENJAMINE A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner J. M. HANLEY, Assistant ExaminerUS. Cl. X.R. 156568; 271-41 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OFCORRECTION 3,546,048 Dated December 8, 1970 Patent No.

Inventor(s) Karl Dullinger and Norbert Jorss.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, Line 17, "inventoin" should read--- --inventlon-- Column 3,Line 51, "shonw" should read--shown-- Column 5, Line 6, "labels" shouldbe inserted after the word applying Signed and sealed this 23rd day ofMarch 1 971 (SEAL) Attesc:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, J]

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR,

Commissioner of Patent Atteating Officer -nrsne-

